Sources have told Goal.com that the United players learned at the club's Carrington training ground today that Moyes is the man who has been lined up to take over from Sir Alex.

Everton have said that they have not been approached by the new Premier League champions to negotiate Moyes' release but it is understood that the Scot has agreed a deal to take over at Old Trafford.

The 50-year-old will have to resign from his post at Goodison Park to complete the formalities of a switch to United but he is out of contract at the end of the season and the process is set to be a swift, smooth and amicable one.

Moyes is a long-time friend of Sir Alex and the pair are set to enjoy a close relationship next season, given that Sir Alex is moving upstairs to join United's board of directors.

It is believed that Moyes has been personally cherry-picked by Sir Alex ahead of a number of Continental managers with proven European credentials.

The decision would then have been ratified by the United board, including the Glazer family, who own the club, and current chief executive David Gill, but they are believed to have been comfortable with Sir Alex having the biggest say in the identity of the man who takes his seat in the dugout.

A close circle of senior United figures have kept the plans shrouded in secrecy to avoid a repeat of the situation in 2001-02 when Sir Alex felt the team were destabilised after he announced his intention to retire at the end of the campaign, only to later change his mind.

Moyes has established Everton as a top-six club during his 11-year reign on Merseyside despite having a budget that is dwarfed by his immediate rivals.

He has not won a trophy since moving to Goodison Park in March 2002 but United are putting greater store in his Premier League experience, motivational qualities, coaching nous and ability to get the most out of his players.

Everton are on course to finish above Merseyside rivals Liverpool in the Premier League for the second consecutive season, a highly commendable achievement given the disparity in resources of the two clubs.

Gill, who will also leave Old Trafford this summer, has consistently said that United would seek an experienced candidate whenever the time came to make their first managerial appointment since November 1986.